A Dad
A Husband
A Motorcyclist
A Cyclist
A Photographer
Gary Hurdman's
Spot On The Web
I suppose the first thing you need to know about me is that I once took a policeman for an unintended ride on the bonnet of my car. It isn’t as dramatic as it sounds. It happened after he stepped out into the road with a raised hand. “Ah dagnammit!” I thought, as I was just edging over the speed limit. So I slowed down and started to pull in. And he sort of kept moving in front of me as though he’d had enough of it all and was committing suicide by pull in. It didn’t occur to me that he was trying to attract the attention of the car behind and just wanted me out the way. It ended in the worlds slowest game of tig and tag until eventually, he jumped on the bonnet of my car. I think he wanted to just end the game. He sent me on my way with an earful of expletives. So I guess the car behind was being driven by a mafia boss or something.
The next thing you need to know is that I’m older than 25. Indeed, I was born in a time when no man had walked on the moon. Neil Armstrong put an end to that a few months after my birth. Another world event following my birth is that the Beatles split up. I’m really sorry, it almost feels like One Direction is all my fault.
As for the rest, all you need to know is that I’m a dad, a husband, a motorcyclist, a cyclist, a photographer and a nerd.
My Mum was Canadian, a Newfie indeed, which is the best kind of Canadian. My Dad not so much, he was born in Saltley in Birmingham. I have spent most of my life in the Great Barr area of Birmingham.
So I have a couple of Snot Monsters. Tom and Ben.
And yeah, I convinced someone to marry me.
A car moves the body. A motorbike moves the soul
Who doesn't like a good picture? Most of mine are on film, I really must get around to scanning them all. Here's a few examples (along with all the pictures here apart from the Canadian Flag).
Well it certainly helps pay the bills. We spend a good deal of time at work so it also helps if you enjoy it.
Let's be honest, the old site was a bit rubbish. But it had some stuff people liked, such as the John O'Groats to Land's End cycle Journal. So it's here, knock yourself out.
My name is Gary Hurdman and I’m a nerd. They say the first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem. But I’m not sure I want to recover. Maybe I just don’t realise I’m addicted to all that is nerdy, or maybe being a nerd is not such a bad thing.
So just how nerdy am I?
But what we want to talk about is my career. I walk amongst the nerds in my career. Today I’m a Technical Project Manager. Previously I’ve been an Operations Manager responsible for 6 teams of second line support analysts. However, going way back, I started life as an Electronic Engineer. Not entirely happy wielding a soldering iron for money, I soon moved to the world of Software Engineering. As a big old I.T. nerd I’ve worked in a good number of disciplines to a good number of methodologies across a good number of business sectors. Quite normal for someone with 20 years or so in the industry.
In terms of Operational and Project Management, I have a proven record of process improvement and delivering more with fewer, happier people. It’s saved money, improved morale and been pretty darned awesome. Pick up my C.V. below for further information. First, a very brief summary of my core skills.
